Nagtapos na ang pole vaulting season sa World Athletics Diamond League sa Zurich, Switzerland kung saan absent si EJ Obiena dahil sa back injury.

Pero nangako naman si Obiena na magbabalik kompetisyon next year.

“I really would prepare for the indoor season next year. January, February, around late March,” sabi ng kasalukuyang world number three sa mundo sa short press conference kasabay ng nakaraang meet-and-greet niya sa Pasay City.

Maagang nagtapos ang 2024 season ng Pinoy pole vaulter matapos ma-diagnose na may spine injury sa Silesia leg ng Diamond League makaraang magtapos sa 5th spot. Bunga nito hindi na siya nakalahok sa Zurich. 

Sa ngayon ay limitado sa indoor cycling at yoga si Obiena.

“We’ll know in a few weeks. We need to do the MRI scan and make sure that the bone is completely healed,” paliwanag niya patungkol sa kanyang injury.

Kung maganda ang resulta ng MRI, muling magbabalik sa training si Obiena.

Samantala tiwala ang kanyang coach na si Vitaly Petrov na malalampasan niya ang personal best 6.00 meters.

“I see 6.10, 6.15 [meters] is possible for EJ. He is ready for this,” wika ni Petrov.

Sinegundahan naman ni Obiena ang sinabi ng kanyang coach.

 “6.10 is something I want to achieve. As I said, I really want to be the best athlete my coach has ever trained.”

Plano ni Obiena na bumalik sa Italy sa September 22 upang doon ituloy ang kanyang pagpapagaling at training.